Category: James Series

“News Flash, we all look, act, and live alike, LOL. Do you get what I’m saying? Look at reality, stop, think, learn, and grow from your mistakes” ~ Jon Barnes

Favoritism

God hates favoritism and how we all use looks, colors, talents, intelligence, and the likes as weapons of mass destruction with our tongues. We don’t love each other. We use the love of evil and power to falsely shine as true love; in order to camouflage God’s likeness and image on the face of every person. We all look like God and must treat each other with the love God has given us.

Deflecting

We are all acting with our actions of love, tolerance, and hate with all of the people we know, see, and relate. This new weapon of distraction is not new at all, because your pride comes before your fall. Did you get up yet– why are you still laying down on the job? The look of your laziness with God’s love in your life is a fraud and it does not look like God at all. Absorb the sunlight of God’s Grace, Love, and Mercy upon your life and reflect it back onto others like the diamond that you are.

The Cut

God is shaping you into a perfect Diamond to shine, share, and become the authentic image He has created for you. The various colors, shapes, sizes, types, qualities, and talents within each diamond are the same, yet your experience with God shapes your emotions of love qualities that sparkles and remains. Did you lose your personal sparkle? Ask God to fix your cuts, scrapes, scratches, and war wounds from this life, so that your diamond has heavenly value.

Today’s Question

Does your soul have the look of Hell, to be unimaginably heated and recycled for eternity?

James 4

Submit Yourselves to God

4 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

4 You adulterous people,[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[b]?6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister[d] or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

Boasting About Tomorrow

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

“Funny, we are all alike, yet still different enough to think differently. Our wrong is never right, as we all look and act the same.” Jon Barnes

Misinterpret

My actions and judgements are misguided and wrong when I do not communicate effectively with God, family and people. It is my responsibility to engage and master the tools of life with all that I have. Our laziness prevent us from digging deeper past the amount of work that it takes to simply make a true statement, phone call, or write a love letter explaining our position.

Misunderstand

We encourage mistakes by not allowing ourselves time to check, re-read, re-focus, and recalculate our ability and effectiveness to love each other. The proof is in your own writing, works, words, charity, dreams, and reality, based on your love for God and His good work of faith in your life; or the lack of love and faith. I have learned to blame myself for my own misinterpretations of the obvious, truth of simplicity. We are all dumb! Wise up.

Miscalculation

I can’t miscalculate the truth of how frail humanity is and I refuse to understate God’s infinite Grace, Glory, Power, and Mercy. I will not slip in my thinking by omitting God’s 10 commandments from my lifestyle of love to share with everyone. Your daily blunders and oversights will not change the outcomes of God’s Infinite Wisdom, Understanding, and Facts of things to come. Recycle your junk, mistakes, evil, sin, and trash by giving it back to God through repentance, so that He can recycle your blunders and credit your soul with a heavenly slot and plot of land.

Today’s Question

Did you miscalculate how to land your soul’s rocket launch to Heaven, through the pearly gates or did you buy the wrong rocket fuel for take off?

Enjoy Today’s Reading

James 3

Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving,considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

“I am ashamed at how much time, resources, money, food, stuff, and energy I have wasted over the years, like storing my personal trash and possessions, as if they were more important than God, my family, and the people around me.” ~ Jon Barnes

Never Again

Never again will I allow my stuff to control my heart, body, and soul. Yet, let God control your movements and manage your assets from a heavenly perspective. Many things will get accomplished when you get out of the way and allow God to deliver you from your self-righteous control over your wasteful, hoarding lifestyle.

Closed

We become closed minded to think that we are always right, refusing to be counseled. I will not lie to myself any longer. It is ok to make a mistake and be wrong occasionally. However it is not ok to hear the truth constantly and ignore the message of God! This constant sin and disobedience will meet and greet you in hell, when you don’t repent and change. Refuse to be a hypocrite, walking in pride, and carrying a bible.

Instructions

When you receive God’s instructions and helpful hints from your loved ones, stop taking the defense. Love is here to help you. Listen and adjust to properly change your attitude and outlook so that you may live longer to finish your assignments. Get out of your own way. My children have taught me how to do this and I’m so thankful! Communicate your transparent actions so that God can give you the traction to climb the mountain of love. A double mind is a waste, since you only need one Godly Mind!

Today’s Question

Why do you hold yourself in high esteem, full of wastefulness, lacking humility and honor in God?

James 2

Favoritism Forbidden

2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right.9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “You shall not murder.”[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Deeds

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]?21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[e] and he was called God’s friend.24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

“Take notice and become inspired by good people who take care of themselves, committing to their personal responsibilities to God, and proper treatment of others. They are living examples of love’s possibilities.” ~ Jon Barnes

Treatment

I have learned to ignore what people say and focus on what they have done, what they are doing, and what they will possibly do, based on their character and obvious treatment of others. People who exercise their faith in practicing self improvement will change a little each day, showing great subtle progress. The eyes of God can see and measure this progress, because you can feel, observe, and follow the growth and harvest of true love being delivered in the lifestyle of responsible people.

Home improvement

These good people constantly work on their family home improvement projects like, staying positive, adjusting bad attitudes, keeping motivated, finding good solutions, asking great questions, listening to sound wisdom, and working with God’s solutions to balance home life. Your home life follows you to work, church, functions, schools down the street, and around the world. Your home improvement projects are quite public and noticeable to everyone.

Daily Focus

Balance your daily focus on hitting each target project you have selected to work on. Find four things you want God to help you improve on and fix them at home first. The results will become clear when you practice what you have learned at work, school, and in public places. People know and accurately talk about who you are, even though they may lie and covet your great qualities. Give them and God something to talk about. The completion of your personal home improvement projects, paints a clear picture of how much you love God and others and the level of personal responsibility you place on getting the good job done!

Today’s Question

How would you measure your level of responsibility to God, your family, yourself, friends, and enemies– does it reach the standard God demands from us?

James 1

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Greetings.

Trials and Temptations

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Listening and Doing

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.